The SFA is a member-supported organization of more than 800 people. Chefs and academics, writers and eaters: all are active participants. In the Atlantic Monthly, Corby Kummer dubbed the SFA “this country’s most intellectually engaged (and probably most engaging) food society.”

Check out the trailer of “Pride & Joy,” the SFA’s upcoming documentary about Southern food culture and see why they’re so excited. The documentary has been six years in the making and is produced by John T. Edge and Andy Harper, and directed by Joe York. The hour-long documentary premieres in September 2012.